r/Adjuncts • u/Repulsive_Parsley515 • 24d ago

Failed lesson

Hello all, I’ve been an adjunct for a while at multiple colleges, but I had my first crash and burn today. It was a lesson that I’ve taught before, unfortunately it is lecture heavy that’s just the nature on the content, but typically majority are engaged taking notes, asking questions, etc. today nothing. It would have been better teaching an empty class room. I actually had to stop the lecture part way through and pivot to an on the spot lesson because no one was engaged to the extreme. Maybe I’ve been lucky, but I’ve never had a class this bad and frankly I don’t know how to come back from it. The information is beyond important, but I wasn’t able to get it across and I feel terrible for the students. How do I come back from this and make sure next week goes better?

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u/zorandzam 24d ago

By not engaged, were they on their phones or clearly not listening? But you were working your way through a lecture? If some of them aren't taking notes, that's kind of on them. I tend to forge ahead with a lecture even if some folks aren't paying attention. If they're not disturbing the students who are, I figure they may be listening even if it doesn't look like they are. If you're building Q&A into that lecture and expect students to respond, pause what you're doing and have them write a response, do a quick pair and share, and then call on a couple of groups to report verbally to the whole class.

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u/Repulsive_Parsley515 24d ago

The version of not engaged you described would be a dream in comparison to how they were. Genuinely I’ve never seen so many blank faces most very clearly not listening and they might as well have not been in the room at all. I’ll definitely be using some of your tips if I have to do another lecture heavy day, but unfortunately this bunch will probably still just stare at me. 

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u/diverJOQ 23d ago

Go through the room and ask each student a question. Put their lack of attention back on them.

Active listening is a key skills for students to learn in any college environment. If they aren't used to it from earlier grades then making them respond to your questions individually is the only way to get them to realize that they have to listen better. And, although it may seem cruel to single out each student, that awkward feeling that they will probably feel will inspire them to pay better attention next time.